Gaming Rig Upgrade ~1000$

imintogoodmusic-1375970 · Jul 30, 2013

Hello everyone, I've been reading this forum for long time now, and today I'd like to ask for a piece of advice.

I own :
CPU - Phenom II X4 955 @3.8
GPU - ATI Sapphire HD 5770
RAM - 2x4GB OCZ 1333MHz
PSU 450W chieftec
MB - GA790FXTA UD5

I am planning to buy HD 7950 sapphire edition, upgrade ram to 2x4GB, I have no idea from which company. I also assume that I'll manage to OC phenom to 4 GHz.
Apart from that I need to buy new 1080p monitor up to 300 USD. And last thing, what PSU will i need?

I am afraid that this post may snem a bit chaotic nevertheless i hope you will help me, thanks.

Sn1992-1361850 · Jul 30, 2013

Get this built

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($105.91 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance Pro 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($72.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($239.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Thermaltake Commander MS/I Snow Edition (White/Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($31.99 @ Microcenter)
Power Supply: XFX 650W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Asus MX239H 23.0" Monitor ($222.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $1003.82
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-07-30 16:25 EDT-0400)

imintogoodmusic-1375970 · Jul 30, 2013

Well mate, i am doing upgrade, i leave hdd ssd CPU and want to buy gpu, ram psu and monitor

i dont want to buy entirely new rig

Sn1992-1361850 · Jul 31, 2013

Look for that 955
There wudb bottlenecking of the 7950 when it comes to cpu taxing games

imintogoodmusic-1375970 · Jul 31, 2013

You think it will do that much @4ghz?
Does screen size influence effixiency of CPU in games? Or it do same job in all res?

Sn1992-1361850 · Jul 31, 2013

Its basically the resolution that matters and screen size would be effecting the gpu at more not the cpu
Yes it surely will bottleneck cards above 7850

imintogoodmusic-1375970 · Jul 31, 2013

Allright, well I am still going to buy 7950, i may upgrade CPU in 12 - 18 months. What you think about required psu?

imintogoodmusic-1375970 · Jul 31, 2013

Allright, well I am still going to buy 7950, i may upgrade CPU in 12 - 18 months. What you think about required psu?

Sn1992-1361850 · Jul 31, 2013

Xfx 650w wud be the best

Power Supply: XFX 650W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($59.99 @ NCIX US)

imintogoodmusic-1375970 · Jul 31, 2013

That would be ok while CPU will be oced and probably gpu as well?
Next thing, which referall 7950 you recomend?

Sn1992-1361850 · Jul 31, 2013

I ll recommend xfx double dissipation or asus dcll

McDuncun · Jul 31, 2013

Dude forget about bottlenecking for now that cpu will do for now at 4.0Ghz, That gpu is too good to pass up on and you wont notice it too bad...
Good ram would be some tasty G.Skill RipjawZ`s @ 2400Mhz(CL10) or Corsair Vengance @ 1866Mhz
Then get at least a 650W-semi or full modular...Corsair`s GX or HX series is very good...
As for the vendor of the GPU, Asus DCU 2 is maybe the best do go with that!

Dark Lord of Tech · Jul 31, 2013

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($111.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($239.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Antec High Current Gamer 620W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($67.98 @ Newegg)
Monitor: AOC e2752Vh 60Hz 27.0" Monitor ($248.73 @ TigerDirect)
Total: $668.69
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-07-31 14:54 EDT-0400)

imintogoodmusic-1375970 · Jul 31, 2013

@sn1992
Im afraid that i cant get xfx in Poland, how about the sapphire one?
@McDuncan
Aint these freq too high? Will i notice difference between them and 1600 ones?
@SR-71 Blackird
I will take a Look at this monitor, 60hz over 120 or i will not See that much difference in that budged? And you suggest 16gb over 8gb?what company is it anyway, havent heard of it.

Is 620w enough? May i get lower wattage?

Dark Lord of Tech · Jul 31, 2013

Sapphire cards are decent.

imintogoodmusic-1375970 · Aug 1, 2013

[strike]bump[/strike] edited last post

Sn1992-1361850 · Aug 1, 2013

Look those freq difference would not be noticable 1600 mhz cl9 memory would run great

And get aby one of these
Xfx
Seasonic
Corsair

imintogoodmusic-1375970 · Aug 2, 2013

How about gigabyte hd 7950?

Sn1992-1361850 · Aug 2, 2013

good card as a gtx 770 would be expensive
the best if u have 500$ then go with gtx 760 sli it would outperform a gtx titan

imintogoodmusic-1375970 · Aug 2, 2013

I think that i will stick to that gigabyte 7950 and corsair vengeance 1600 cl9.
Now i need to get psu and monitor. I dont have too much money to spend on them, unfortunatelly. Well, 600W will do? Or i need 650? Or even 550 W will do?
I'll take a Look at this AOC monitor, Apart from that I am not sure if i Can get 120 Hz on that price and if i need it.

Dark Lord of Tech · Aug 2, 2013

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: AOC e2351F 60Hz 23.0" Monitor ($117.47 @ TigerDirect)
Total: $177.46
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-08-02 14:44 EDT-0400)

ncasolo · Aug 2, 2013

Wow. I built nearly that exact same PC almost a year ago for almost the same price. Prices haven't really fallen much on parts and parts don't seem to have made too many recent advances. I might have the most "current" year old PC in the history of technology!

i5 3570K
HIS IceQ Turbo 7950 3GB card
8gb RAM
ASRock Z77 Extreme motherboard
a nice SSD and that's that.

ncasolo · Aug 2, 2013

imintogoodmusic-1375970 :

Also my thoughts on a monitor... if you have one right now and you're on a tight budget don't get a new one.

imintogoodmusic-1375970 · Aug 2, 2013

@blackbird
Are you totally sure that 550w is enough for oced CPU and probably slightly oced gpu? I'd be more than happy if so.
@ncasolo
And how your rig do right now? Any problems? You already think about upgrade?
I am afraid i need new monitor, now i have 19'' 1280x1024 one, i want full HD for sure.

Sn1992-1361850 · Aug 2, 2013

Yes that xfx 550w is much more capable a top notch unit

Gaming Rig Upgrade ~1000$

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